Ontario Invests in New World-Class Dairy Research Facility in Elora

New Centre to Help Improve Health and Safety of New Food Products

Ontario has helped to create a new state-of-the-art livestock research and innovation centre to develop new food products that are healthier, safer, and produced in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The new $25-million Livestock Research and Innovation Centre Dairy Facility in Elora is a unique multi-discipline research centre where industry stakeholders as well as staff and students from Canadian universities can collaborate on dairy-related research projects including:

Enhancing livestock health through the use of advanced technologies

Improving the quality of milk and meat through genetics and nutrition research

Supporting growth and innovation in the province's agri-food industry is part of the government's plan to build Ontario up. The four-part plan includes investing in people's talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.

Quick Facts

The dairy industry is the second largest sector in Ontario agriculture. Ontario’s 4,000 dairy farms produce 2.5 billion litres of milk each year, enough milk to fill the Rogers Centre twice, from home plate to the retractable roof. That amount of milk is worth $1.8 billion per year.

Additional Resources

Quotes

“The new Livestock Research and Innovation Centre is an excellent example of how industry, government and academia can work together to ensure Ontario’s livestock sector remains innovative, competitive and a leader in the agri-food sector. Ontario’s dairy farmers and stakeholders, with the support of the Ontario government, are committed to leading research in animal husbandry, environmental sustainability and best management practices to ensure the highest quality dairy products for Ontarians.”

“This world-class facility puts Ontario at the forefront of innovation and technology development for tomorrow. It reflects the University's long and productive partnership with OMAFRA in innovative research and education. This facility will help ensure that we continue to lead in sustaining and enhancing Canada's agri-food industry.”

Franco Vaccarino

President of the University of Guelph

“The Dairy Farmers of Ontario, on behalf of industry, are proud partners in this world-class dairy research and innovation facility at Elora. It represents a firm commitment to collaborative research with our industry, government and university partners. Together we can build a strong foundation for future generations and for a strong and viable dairy industry in Ontario.”

Ralph Dietrich

Chair of the Dairy Farmers of Ontario

“We are the envy of other jurisdictions with our partnerships – modernizing our research infrastructure with partners from government, the University of Guelph and industry helps accelerate the discovery and adoption of innovations that enhance and sustain Ontario’s agri-food sector and fuel a productive economy.”